Gun-sight.



PATENTED MAY 5, 1908. J. Y. B ASSELL & P. G. BLBNKNER.

GUN SIGHT. APPLICATION TILED I43. 12, 1908,

INVENTORS J'OZZJ/ Basse/Z e 05%??? RNEY w a c s R x r r P m R a a v N m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN Y. BASSELL AND FRED O. BLENKNER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

GUN-SIGHT.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN Y. BASSELL and FRED O. BLENKNER, citizens of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gun-Sights, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to new and useful improvements in gun sights.

The object of the invention is to provide a sight which may be readily and securely fastened to the block of an ordinary fixed front sight or a front sight which is held in fixed relation to the gun barrel.

The more essential object however, lies in the provision of a hood constructed to be engaged about the block of the front sight of a rifle, such as is used on the regular military rifle and which is usually immovably secured to the barrel by brazing. Our improved sight is constructed to snugly embrace the block of the front sight and while to some extent forming a shade its more important purpose is to provide a hooded sight and to be capable of ready and easy application by the individual shooter, without the aid of a skilled mechanic, any alteration of the usual front sight, or the use of tools.

Another feature resides in removable sight pieces adapted to fit in the ordinary block or lug of the front sight, giving those so desiring, a certain amount of variation and size in sight pieces or centers.

Finally the object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described that will be strong, durable, eflicient and simple and inexpensive to construct, and one in which the several parts will not be liable to get out of working order.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction and operation, a preferable embodiment of which is described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of our improved gun sight in position on the rifle barrel and engaged about the fixed front sight. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line XX of Fig. 6, Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating the rifle barrel in section, Fig. 4 is a side elevation, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, the rifle barrel being shown in elevation, Fig. 6 is a plan view of the gun Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 12, 1906.

Patented May 5, 1908.

Serial No. 305,485.

sight, Fig. 7 is a plan view, the hood being shown in horizontal section, Fig. 8 is a rear elevation showing one of the removable sight pieces in position, Fig. 9 shows a side and rear elevation of one of the removable sight pieces, and Fig. 10 shows similar views of a larger size of removable sight piece.

lt is to be noted that in the different figures the parts have been enlarged to facilitate better illustration.

In the drawings the numeral 1, designates the muzzle portion of a rifle barrel and 2, the block or lug of an ordinary front sight which is usually brazed or otherwise secured in fixed relation to the barrel. This block is provided with a central longitudinal groove or recess 3 cut in from the upper surface and extending from end to end of the block. Within this groove 3 a sight piece or blade l is snugly fitted and held in place by a pin 5 passing transversely through the block. By driving out the pin, the sight piece may be removed.

In carrying out our invention a suitably shaped base 6, is formed with a central vertical recess 7 cut in from the front face of the base and of such shape, together with the base, as to snugly receive the block and conform to the contour thereof. Along its underside, the base is formed to fit and rest on the rifle barrel 1. The base may be secured to the block in various manners, as by driving out the pin 5 and passing a longer pin 8 through the base, the block 2 and the sight piece 4, or by allowing the pin 5 to remain and inserting a set-screw 9 in the side of the base and tightening the same so that it firmly impinges the side of the block, thereby securely fastening the same in place and against displacement, yet providmg for the removal of the base should it be desired. By fastening the base on the block our sight may be carried on the rifle barrel without the liability of being displaced by the handling of the rifle, incidental to drilling and carrying, or it may be placed on the barrel only when its use is desirable.

The upper surface of the base is concaved or formed with a longitudinally concaved depression 10, while a hood 11 formed integral with or otherwise secured to the base has its inner periphery merged into the concaved de ression with the result that a structure su stantially circular in cross section is produced. We wish to make it clear also that the concaved depression 10 may be a part of Jun:

the hood. The hood 11 and the base are so proportioned and arranged as to cause the upper or sighting edge of the sight piece 4.- to coincide or aline with the center of the hood and to be positioned substantially midway between the ends thereof so that the pro er effects may be obtained. The base anc the hood being fixed together not only present a compact and practically indestructible sight, but afford protection to the sight piece l and act to preserve its perfection.

By means of the hood a shade for the sight piece is had, but the more important feature is the construction of the base and hood to furnish to the eye the projection of a globe, and the individual shooter is enabled to obtain a higher degree of perfection as a marks man. Of course the concaved depression 10 forms a very essential art of the sight and without it or its equiva ent, the results could not be secured.

We have designed for those desiring a slight variation in sight pieces, pin head sight pieces 12 formed with shoulders 14 adapted to rest on the block 2 and a shank 15 ar ranged to fit in the groove 3. In Fig. 8 one of these sight pieces is shown in position. These sight pieces may be made in various styles and sizes and in Figs. 9 and 10 we have shown rear and side elevations of two sizes of pin head sight pieces. When one. of the sight pieces 12 is ap lied, the usual sight piece 4: is removed, t 1e sight piece 12 inserted so that its shank 15 engages in the groove 3 and shoulders rest on the block 2. The shank 15 is provided with an aperture 16 through which the pin 5 or the pin 8 may be passed to secure the same in place. In Fig. 8 we have shown in dotted lines a set-screw 17 which passes through the base 6 and the block 2 and impingesdthe shank of the sight iece 12, serving thedoublapurpose of holdmg the sight piece in place and the base about the block.

It is evident that various forms of sight pieces and means for fastening the same in place may be provided.

lVe wish to call attention to the fact that in order to obtain a perfect hood as well as a perfect sight, the base 6 must conceal the greater portion of the block 2 of the front sight from the shooter and center the sight piece in the hood to form which, a substantially circular opening must be provided.

What we claim, is:

1. The combination with a gun barrel and the fixed block of the front sight thereof, of a solid base formed with a recess open at one end adapted to receive the block and provided with a longitudinal concave depression, and a hood fixp dly secured on the base and forming/with said depression a sight opening substantially circular in cross section.

2. The combination with a gun barrel and the fixed block of the front sight thereof, of a solid base formed with a recess open at one end adapted to receive the block and provided with a longitudinal concave depression, a hood fixedly secured on the base and forming with said depression a sight opening substantially circular in cross section, and means for fastening the base to the block to hold the same against displacement.

3. The combination with a gun barrel and the fixed block of the front sight thereof, of

a base formed with an open ended recess adapted to receive the block longitudinally, a hood formed integral with the base and forming therewith a sight opening substantially circular in cross section, and means for fastening the base on the block.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN Y. BASSELL. FRED C. BLENKNER. Witnesses JEssE SMITH, M. B. SoHLEY. 

